Liv Lee is an artist and illustrator, living and working on the Mid North Coast of Australia. Her signature style features wonky interpretations of plants, flowers and fruit that inspire happiness and evoke nostalgia.
WHAT DID YOU GET IN TROUBLE FOR AS A KID? ANYTHING ADULTS TOLD YOU TO AVOID THAT’S ACTUALLY A BIG PART OF YOUR LIFE NOW?
I went back to uni to study surface design as an adult, and my lecturer told all of the students to keep our day jobs, as you can’t make a living out of it. But that’s exactly what I was there for – to leave my current job and make a living out of art. It was incredibly deflating. I’ve been doing it full-time now for five years and am grateful for every job that comes my way.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DRAW AS A CHILD? WHY DID THAT LODGE IN YOUR HEAD?
Flowers. I knew the name of every flower by the time I was four years old, thanks to my delightful neighbor Audrey, who had a very green thumb. I also insisted my named was changed to Flower for a while. It didn’t stick.
WHERE DO YOU WORK? WHAT’S YOUR WORKSPACE LIKE? ANY OBJECTS YOU’VE HAD A LONG TIME?
I work from home, in the studio, with my husband. It’s a humble little setup with a plethora of vintage flower field guides, four lamps (is that too many lamps?) and my daughter’s artwork on the wall that is undeniably heaps better than mine. My desk is one of the things I’ve had the longest – it’s a cheap Ikea trestle table that I bought as a stopgap until I found a really good desk. It’s been 10 years and I’m still looking for that good desk.
HOW DOES CREATIVITY RUN IN YOUR FAMILY, EVEN IF IT’S NOT DESIGN-RELATED?
My dad was an incredible artist. He was a furniture designer and maker by day, and by night he would make intricate wood carvings and detailed drawings. And my paternal grandmother was also an amazing artist who would use inks and pastels to create artworks, and she was also an avid sewist who made clothes for everyone in the family.
